After the course you will run large test projects day to day with more confidence: bring in external test partners through clear contracts, plan project risks and quality measures, track progress, and report so that clients and the team understand where things stand. You will use statistical quality control to assess results objectively and justify release decisions, and use retrospectives to set up the next project better. It suits experienced test managers working towards ISTQB Expert Level.
What you’ll take away.
- Manage relationships with external test providers effectively through contracts and communication
- Plan project tasks, project risks and quality management from a test management perspective
- Track test progress, report internally and externally, and interpret results using statistical quality control
- Take domain and project factors into account in release decisions and learn from retrospectives
Your training in detail
- Who is it for?
- Experienced test managers, test project leads and QA leads who run test projects with internal and external parties.
- Prerequisites
- ISTQB requires Certified Tester Foundation Level and Advanced Level Test Manager, at least five years of practical testing experience and at least two years of experience in test management.
- Format & planning
- Standard length: 5 training days. A different length can be arranged for companies.
Agenda: from understanding to application
Our independently developed agenda proposal. Focus areas, lab environment and scope are agreed before booking.
External relationships: types of contract, communication and integrating external test sources
Project management in testing: tasks, project risks and quality management
Tracking and evaluating test projects: progress, internal and external reporting
Interpreting test results and applying statistical quality control
Domain and project factors, release considerations
Evaluating effectiveness and efficiency: project retrospectives
Exam preparation
Part of a test project is outsourced to an external provider. You set acceptance criteria for the contract, design a reporting format for the client and the team, and derive a reasoned release recommendation from defect data.
Exams, licences & credentials
The course prepares you for the ISTQB CTEL-TM-OTM exam, one of three parts of Expert Level Test Management. The full CTEL-TM requires all three part exams. The exam and its fees are included only if the offer explicitly confirms this. The certificate is issued by an ISTQB Member Board or ISTQB exam provider. It is an accredited course only if the offer says so.
Vendor references & review date
Sources checked on 2026-11-10. These sources describe the technology or external exam requirements. They do not imply a partnership with NextNowa.
Your learning content
These objectives describe the training topic. The specific syllabus, dates and trainer are agreed before booking; the written offer is binding.
Frequently asked questions
How does OTM differ from Managing the Test Team?
OTM is about running test projects: external partners, risks, reporting and releases. Managing the Test Team is about people, meaning how you build, develop and lead the team.
What does ISTQB require for the exam?
You need Certified Tester Foundation Level and Advanced Level Test Manager, at least five years of testing experience and two years in test management. Your ISTQB exam provider checks the details.
Does ISTQB Expert Level Test Management: Operational Test Management (CTEL-TM-OTM): running test projects include a certificate?
The course prepares you for the ISTQB CTEL-TM-OTM exam, one of three parts of Expert Level Test Management. The full CTEL-TM requires all three part exams. The exam and its fees are included only if the offer explicitly confirms this. The certificate is issued by an ISTQB Member Board or ISTQB exam provider. It is an accredited course only if the offer says so.